Among the Christian-themed necklaces, a medallion “molytovky” stands out: a double-sided round pendant with images of saints made of foil and transparent glass, framed in a brass strip and tied with wire, decorated with embossing and painting. These amulets were made in the Pochayiv Lavra, where they were bought by pilgrims who went on a walking pilgrimage to Pochayiv. Prayer beads were widespread in Volyn (Rivne, Zhytomyr, and Volyn regions) and were worn with necklaces or attached to them.

Most often, the medallion was decorated with images of the Virgin Mary and St. Job of Pochayiv, while various variations of crosses and appeals to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker were less common.

The most common names are: “molytovky” (Rivne region), “lychmany” (Ratniv district), “mendali” (Liuboml district), “luchpanyky” (Shatsk district).

Zoriana Kuryliak

Project "Decorative metal: metal elements of traditional Ukrainian neck jewelry" is supported by the European Union under the House of Europe programme.